Chapter 225: Though Aged, My Arrows Remain Sharp!

Run away?

No! No! No!

That's merely the standard tactic of the Inaba Rabbit Ninja: lure the opponent into the Bio Bamboo Grove's rabbit trap, then crush them with a ceiling as heavy as the golden tiles atop the Marunouchi Super Tower—the merciless killing art: Kinpaku·Karate!

"Eeyaaah—!"

Before she could reach the hidden trap, a pair of large hands reached from behind, seized her twin ears, and yanked her up.

Inaba Ten, whose direct combat power was nearly nonexistent, hung her head in defeat and stopped struggling as her ears were pulled.

She had curly black hair cut just above her neck, a pair of pink rabbit ears four to five inches long drooping beside her head, wore a light pink short-sleeved dress with a ruffled hem and collar, and had blood-red almond eyes.

On the surface, she appeared to be a cute ten-year-old loli, so petite and adorable one couldn't help but want to protect her—or… bully her.

But in this world, outward age was the most unreliable thing of all; clearly, this was also a loli-bba whose age numbered in the thousands.

"Inaba no Shiro Usagi… the White Rabbit of Inaba…" Yagumo Shizu sized up the rabbit-eared girl with a malicious gaze; from just one name Jia Ji had revealed, she instantly knew who stood before her.

"Unexpected bonus—so you're the legendary Lucky White Rabbit? Cutting off your rabbit foot might bring good fortune." The youkai sage spoke calmly, uttering something terrifying, causing Inaba no Mi, who had already given up, to struggle again.

"The White Rabbit of Inaba is a lucky rabbit, an auspicious beast"—this is recorded in the Kojiki.

"Bad luck, bad luck, bad luck—I'm really gonna die this time!"

Though a weak rabbit youkai, Inaba no Mi had an extraordinary origin and an extremely long lifespan; she had seen countless humans, youkai, and gods in her life, and her eyesight was sharp.

Thus she could tell: the golden-haired youkai woman was dangerous, the green-haired youkai beside her was even more dangerous, and the hedgehog-headed one gripping her ears was more dangerous than both combined.

Because she possessed the ability to bring good fortune, Inaba no Mi rarely encountered danger—but unfortunately, Jia Ji wasn't from this world; no matter how lucky she was, she couldn't dodge a mud truck from another dimension.

So now was a rare moment when one could simply wave a hand and instantly refine this rabbit into rabbit soup and lucky trinkets.

"Relax, we're here to find Yagami Eirin. It has nothing to do with you… though we might need you to guide us."

Saying this, Jia Ji tossed the unlucky creature to Yūkō, who had nothing in her hands; as far as he knew, flower youkai generally didn't harm children… didn't they? Maybe?

Yagami Eirin?

Upon hearing Jia Ji's words, Inaba no Mi immediately exhaled in relief, then her eyes brightened with curiosity.

That old woman actually has someone coming to visit her?

Her drooping rabbit ears seemed to regain vitality, lifting slightly, and a strange smile appeared on her face—as if anticipating something—as she cheerfully led them deeper into the bamboo sea.

As they followed Inaba no Mi's directions, Jia Ji quietly opened the group chat with Yagumo Shizu.

【Great Dream God: Hey, why did you join the group? @ForeverSeventeen】

【ForeverSeventeen: Huh? What do you mean?】

【Great Dream God: Logically speaking, Kaguya's chance of joining wasn't low either; if not you, it would've been her.】

【Great Dream God: Then we could've freely stolen hundreds of rabbits and a conceptual-level physician from Eternity Pavilion, wouldn't need to help you fight everywhere, and get unlimited spiritual medicines—damn, that'd be awesome…】

【ForeverSeventeen: That's not logical at all!】

【Aoi no Enju: That's not logical at all! I think Sister Shizu joining the group is definitely better than that Kaguya woman! Jia Ji, you're being too harsh!】

【Angel of the Afterlife: Agree】

【Yin-Yang Eye Witness: Agree!】

……

Under the group's collective verbal assault, Jia Ji could only raise his hands in surrender.

Yagumo Shizu's image had been perfectly crafted: though no one in the group had ever seen Kaguya, they all instantly labeled her an unknown wild woman—even those who had heard the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.

They'd probably get along well with some fire-controlling Hōrai person.

But if Kaguya had truly joined, Jia Ji likely wouldn't be this strong now; the group members would probably have shifted into a genuine slice-of-life vibe.

Then everyday conversations would've been "Log in, let's play games!" instead of today's "I'm in trouble, come help me!" "Strong enemy, hurry up and fight!" "Save me one!"—all brimming with intensity.

……

After walking through the bamboo sea for a while, the density of the bamboo trees thinned, and a faint path emerged, leading into the misty depths, where pale moonlight cast a beautiful curtain over the fog.

Soon after, the thick white mist receded like a living tide, and the surroundings gradually became clear; the outlines of buildings began to emerge.

It was a complex of structures made of bamboo and wood—simple yet luxurious, ordinary yet concealing nobility.

Not a fairy's blessed land or hidden cave, but an ideal retreat from the world—this was Eternity Pavilion, where eternity was frozen in a single instant, forever unchanged.

Jia Ji found Eternity·Pavilion; with the help of Moonbrain·Ninja, he restored Seiōji Yūkō's memories. Oh oh… what a gentle world—even Yagumo·Zi couldn't help but wear a mysterious smile…

——Creak. Jia Ji, who had already reached the front, pushed open the wooden door before him.

"Domo, Moonbrain·Ninja-san, Hokuto·NinjaDesu."

He loudly introduced himself inside, though no one present except Yagumo Shizu could understand him.

Yet, in response to the unexpected visitors, the master of the house had only one reply—

"Swoosh, swoosh-swoosh-swoosh-swoosh—!!"

Arrows tipped with terrifying icy glints, moving many times faster than sound, tore through space and silently struck the invaders.

That chilling silver light resembled a meteor shower locked precisely onto the hearts of its targets—fierce, countless, and infused with overwhelming power.

Because he stood at the front, Jia Ji received the most arrows—but it didn't matter; he always had a countermeasure for ranged attacks…

"Two-Finger Vacuum Grab!"

Simultaneously, dozens of hands appeared, with supernatural precision—each arrow aimed at him was drawn involuntarily into his two fingers.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

With exquisitely controlled force, every arrow caught in his grip was launched back by his hands with identical power.

Two waves of arrows now engaged in precise point-to-point artillery duels before the gates of Eternity Pavilion!

(End of Chapter)